Parent Bulletin – Period ending Friday 25 January 2019

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Message from the Principal

I’m sure many of you have heard we’ve had snow – lots of it, and it’s created a fair amount of

excitement with students enjoying a few outdoor snowy pursuits. This flurry followed the

release of mock exam results when we try to mirror what it will be like on the actual day the

real results come in. For some, the mock results will have been a wake-up call which we

hope spurs them into improving their efforts to reach their full potential so they have ‘no

regrets’. Staff will be doing all they can to support them, and I’m sure you will too – later in

this bulletin you will find a useful link giving advice on how you can do this; the exams are not

far away.

Our Year 11’s will be considering their Sixth Form options and it’s not too late to apply to

continue their education with us. You can find our latest Sixth Form prospectus on our

website at www.doyrms.com; it gives a thorough guide to what’s available. As Dukie parents,

you already know the benefits of continuity of education and how boarding prepares young

people for university life. Our modern Centenary House Sixth Form centre is ideally suited for

independent living in a safe environment. In addition to a good range of subjects and small

class sizes, our older students still enjoy all the great facilities at the School including sports.

Music, CCF, adventure camps and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. If you’d like to refresh your

memory of our Sixth Form facilities, please register on our website for the Open Morning on

March 9. Alternatively, email our Head of Sixth Form at hannah.couves@doyrms.com with

any questions you might have. It might be helpful to know that should finances be a concern,

we might be able to help. Please contact Trudy Elkins (trudy.elkins@doyrms.com / 01304

245027) to have that conversation sooner rather than later. Hannah Couves has already

sent several emails to prospective Sixth Form parents, but if you’ve not received them,

perhaps update your contact details with us or contact Hannah. Applications are made

through UCAS PROGRESS at www.ucas.com where you will find a useful step-by-step guide

on what you’ll need to do.

This year’s drama production is Hairspray and tickets are free on a first come, first served

basis for performances on February 12, 13, 14 – details follow later in this bulletin on how to

reserve yours, and I look forward to seeing you there.

Finally, it’s satisfying to read all of the latest media reports on how school curriculums should

offer an all-round education with academic focus. As Dukie parents, you will know we already

do this and it may have been a factor when you chose our School. We also provide our

students with a great set of values that should last them a lifetime.

Alex Foreman

Principal

Important Information

Parents Consultation

Invitations to the Parents Consultation to be held on Friday February 15 have been emailed.

This consultation is for Years 9, 12, 13 and any students who joined the school this term.

Please check your emails, and if you have not received a letter, please contact

karen.huckstep@doyrms.com.

The deadline for returning the form is Friday February 8.

CCF SUMMER CAMP 2019

It is expected all Year 10 and Year 12 cadets will attend this year's CCF Summer Camp. RN

and RAF cadets may attend either this or another equivalent course or camp (the Officer

Commanding the RN and RAF sections will have further details of these).

The week away is the culmination of a year’s training for our Year 10 students and the

opportunity for Year 12 students to demonstrate their leadership qualities. Camp is used as

one of many ways of assessing all students for future CCF and Ceremonial promotions,

allowing us to select future Junior / Senior Under Officers.

Dates have been published in advance and parents are respectfully asked to ensure their

son or daughter makes every effort to attend. Prior to deployment to camp, on July 6 - 7 we

will conduct final military training skills at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School,

culminating in infantry tactics, kit issuing and final administration.

For a copy of the parent letter, please click here.

Returns are required by 1 March 2019. All absences must be personally authorised by the

Principal.

Lieutenant Colonel S S Saunderson

DoYRMS CCF Contingent Commander,

& 11 Infantry Brigade, Deputy Colonel (Cadets)

Wellbeing Update

Good emotional health and wellbeing enables students to make the most of their time and

efforts both in and outside of the classroom. However, it is also true that this generation of

young people face unprecedented pressures and threats from the world around them. Add to

this the challenges of maintaining good mental and physical health, and it is no wonder

pastoral care is a priority for us here at The Duke of York's Royal Military School and

everyone involved in education.

To ensure that our youngest students have the best start to their secondary education, all of

our Year 7 students have had the opportunity to learn the practise of TRE. This provides our

students with their own set of tools to cope with life’s adversities while also allowing them to

build resilience. TRE is a form of relaxation, further details can be found on their website.

Please find the link attached - https://treuk.com/

Tips of the fortnight - Exam Stress

As many of our students are beginning to revise and prepare for their GCSE or A level

exams, please find below a useful guide to supporting your son or daughter with exam stress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ClIHwpuyE

Hairspray

Free tickets for this year’s senior production of Hairspray are now available. Please contact

Reception@doyrms.com to reserve your seat.

Well done from Walking With the Wounded

We’ve received a big thank-you from Walking With the Wounded following the donation of

£5,575.33 raised through the Walking Home for Christmas charity walk by students in

December.

Our donation will help fund existing and new WWTW projects aimed at supporting the most

vulnerable veterans re-integrate into society and regain their independence as well as giving

support to families of veterans.

So, we pass on our big thanks to you – our parents – who we know support our students with

endeavours such as this.

Stephen King, MA (Lib)

School Librarian & Careers Leader

Legal Apprentice Competition

Members of Year 12 were invited to enter a Legal Apprentice Competition with Kinglsey

Napley. Those that enter will have the opportunity to win £500 per student in the winning

team, a week’s worth of work experience with the firm, and a chance to interview for a Legal

Apprenticeship placement over a six year period of study and employment leading to

qualification as a solicitor.

The following students entered their teams ready to take the ‘chance to tap into their inner

solicitor, use individual skill and logic as a team to provide legal advice for virtual clients’.

Each team will compete against hundreds of other schools in the country to fight for their

place in the final.

We wish the following students the best of luck as they prepare for the competition to open

on Thursday January 31:

Team One

Ashleigh

Lauren

Natalie

Imogen

Team Two

Emily

Eleanor

Suchita

Team Three

Nick

Derek

Alex

Isabelle

Other key dates to watch out for:

February 6 Live legal webinar

January 31 to February 15 Heat 1: Identifying legal issues - Scenario based task

February 25 to March 7 Heat 2: Interviewing a witness & drafting a statement

March 14 to April 3 Heat 3: Pitching for a client

April 23 Finalists announced

June 19 The live final at News UK

Support our teacher’s charity artic challenge

In the last Parent Bulletin, we featured Kate Lawrence, Maths teacher and Deputy

Housemistress of Marlborough, who is taking on the 430-mile Montane Yukon Artic Ultra

challenge to raise funds for The Dukies’ Foundation.

A charitable giving page has now been set up at

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephen-king43 should you wish to donate – funds will

be used for various School projects and student bursaries.

Our photo shows Kate in training pulling a sled around School grounds when it snowed on

January 23.

However, from February 3 when the race starts, she’ll be walking in snow and icy conditions

across a frozen river coping with an average temperature of minus 35 while pulling a sled

with all her provisions.

Kate and her sister-in-law Michelle Smith, who is also a teacher, will be the first female team

in the world to take on the challenge which they hope to complete in 12 days.

Once the race starts, there will be an opportunity to track their progress online.

Dukies at the dedication of the Princess of

Wales’s Royal Regiment Memorial Wall

Lt. Col Saunderson and WOI (RSM) Dowle had the honour of attending the dedication of the

Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Memorial Wall at Leros Barracks, Canterbury. The wall

commemorates fallen members of the Regiment. A number of former Dukies and parents

(past and present) also attended, and one of our Junior Under Officers Fiona had the

privilege of reading a prayer during the service. There was also time to catch up with an old

friend of the School L/Sgt Johnson Beharry VC COG, who visited DOYRMS in 2010 to as

guest of Honour at the Inter-House Drill Competition when he also met Fiona (see photo).

L/Sgt was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration, for saving members of

his unit, the 1st Battalion Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment from ambushes on 1 May and

again on 11 June 2004 at Al-Amarah, Iraq. He sustained serious head injuries in the latter

engagement.

Lieutenant Colonel S S Saunderson

DOYRMS CCF Contingent Commander,

& 11 Infantry Brigade, Deputy Colonel (Cadets)

Haig House

It has been a busy introduction to my role as Housemaster at Haig House. All the boys have

made me and my family feel extremely welcome. So far, I have to say it’s been very positive.

I have spoken to most parents and also met a few in person; for those who I have not met

yet, I hope to soon. The majority of the House have been working hard in and out of School

and been keeping busy. I experienced my first Inter-house senior hockey tournament on

January 19 . The boys battled hard throughout the afternoon in bitter conditions and did

themselves and the House proud.

Over the coming weeks, we have a couple of weekend trips planned as team building

exercises to get to know each other, which will be a nice way to end the first half of the term.

Mr Stu Hall

Haig Housemaster

DofE Ambassador Training Day

Three students from Year 12 were selected to become Ambassadors for the Duke of

Edinburgh Award scheme at DOYRMS. On January 19, Alfred, Dika and James-Henry

travelled to Ashford School to meet other Ambassadors and develop their knowledge and

understanding of the DofE programme.

During the training course, they learned vital skills about public speaking, team work, leading

groups in training and on expedition and how to assist DofE leaders. DofE is more popular

than ever, and with our ever increasing number of participants at DOYRMS, it is great to have

some additional, trained support. It was also a great opportunity to meet other students from

schools and DofE centres in the local area. “Since the training, I have kept in contact with

other members from the group through social media, and it is great to socialise with other

people who are interested in the outdoors and leadership,” said Alfred who plans to join the

army as a medical officer.

“Our role will be to help any student at DOYRMS participating in the DofE award programme.

We will be present during Bronze and Silver training sessions, and participants can come and

ask for extra help at other times, may be with how to add evidence to their eDofE accounts or

help in completing their route cards,” said Dika.

“The DofE award is very important to me", said James-Henry who hopes to study medicine

after his A levels. “The course highlighted to me that not only does it help to promote our

School values of courage, integrity, respect, commitment, loyalty and discipline, but it is such

good fun and can really help you later on in life as it develops so many useful transferrable

skills.”

After the February half term holiday, all students in Year 9 participating in the Bronze award,

will participate in an afternoon walk where they can practice their navigational skills, realise

what it feels like to carry a heavy rucksack and start working more effectively as a team.

Participants should remember to have appropriate clothing for walking and a pair of suitable

walking boots with ankle support that have already been worn in to prevent unnecessary

blisters and sprained ankles. Should you have any questions concerning DofE, please

contact our DofE Manager, Kerry Duffield.

Mrs Kerry Duffield

Biology Teacher / DofE Manager

Sixth Form Dinner

The Upper Sixth Form thoroughly enjoyed their dinner on January 19. They had invited

several students and staff from Dover Girls Grammar School to join them for this prestigious

evening. Diners were all kept entertained by guest speaker Mr Greg Wood, who is Mrs

Cottage's brother - so a few home secrets were shared with us all!

Mr Wood was a TV and radio journalist and broadcaster for 25 years, working as a business

and economics correspondent and presenter for BBC, ITN and Channel 4. He kept us all on

the edge of our seats when he retold the story of being on the scene in 2009 when Chesley

Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles glided the plane to a ditching in the Hudson River off Midtown

Manhattan. Mr Wood was running alongside the Hudson River reporting the events live from

the river side.

The guests from Dover Girls Grammar were in awe of the AG's Room and we certainly hope

that they shall be back to join us again for some other social events.

Mrs Sarah Castle

Centenary Housemistress

Rewarding Residential, by Skye S

I am currently completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award; part of the programme involves

the Residential section, spending five days and four nights away from home and participating

in a shared activity with people I have never met before. When deciding on my Residential

activity, I knew that I wanted to make a positive impact on others while also doing something

to challenge myself.

At the end of term when everyone travelled home for their Christmas holidays, I headed to

Jubilee Lodge in Essex to work with a charity called Revitalise. It provides respite holidays for

disabled people and their carers with 24-hour care and excursions. I had no idea what to

expect when I got to Jubilee Lodge, so went with an open mind, but appreciated my week

was going to be quite emotionally challenging. However, I got stuck straight in and not only

learned new things everyday about myself but also about those with disabilities.

A typical day for me started at 7am. I and other volunteers had set up breakfast the night

before. Socialising was a big part of my role, some of the guests said they hadn’t had a

conversation with someone in months which is why talking and getting to know the guests

was so important. As all the guests started to arrive, it was important I took their orders for

breakfast whether this be a full English or porridge. The majority of the guests were unable to

feed or drink by themselves. I will admit, when the manager told me I was going to have to

feed the majority of the guests, I was nervous; all that was going through my head was what

if I don’t do it properly? What if I do something wrong? However the task was straightforward;

it was a matter of cutting / mashing up the food to avoid any choking, using a straw to give

the guest their drink, and some patience.

After the guests had finished eating, it was important to ensure they were comfortable,

whether this meant taking them back to their rooms so they can relax or getting them ready

for a trip. I would then work alongside other volunteers, some from Germany, Spain and

Korea, to wash up from breakfast and set up the tables for lunch. I was lucky, as most of my

days consisted of taking the guests on trips – London Aquarium, Winter Wonderland, the

theatre, Van Hague and the London Eye. While I was on these trips, it was so amazing to

learn about the guests I was looking after.

I can honestly say I met some incredible people during volunteering. One particular guest

who stood out to me, called Darryl, has Multiple Sclerosis. He is unable to walk, use his

hands and can barely see. Spending time with him kept me going throughout the week. His

ability to keep going no matter what obstacles he constantly had to face every single day was

astonishing. He has given me a stronger mind then I had before volunteering at Revitalise.

One particular task I assisted with that stood out, was helping Darryl to write his blogs. He

would do one every single day without fail. They were so uplifting and touching. Each time he

would end a blog he finished with this; ‘don’t be beaten and stay smiling people’. It just

proves you should never take anything for granted, there is always someone worse off then

you. I would recommend Revitalise to everyone and anyone; the rewards you get out of it are

incredible but the most important thing is that you are making such a big positive impact on

their lives.

Year 12 students 'see the difference'

Year 12 students recently attended a careers talk by Ali Woodhouse from the ‘I See The

Difference’ organisation, highlighting potential career paths in allied healthcare professions.

Ms Woodhouse discussed Orthoptics, Podiatry, Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Therapeutic

Radiography as just four of the many professions available within the NHS. She outlined how

varied and challenging these professions are, but also how rewarding the one-to-one

treatment delivered can be, changing people’s lives and opening up new opportunities for

patients with a myriad of different diagnoses.

Students heard that degree-level apprenticeships are now becoming available in these areas,

and learnt that working hours and other conditions compare favourably against many other

healthcare professions.

Stephen King, Careers Leader, & Lea Adkins, Sixth Form Learning Mentor.

Governor Focus

Christopher Wacher

a. What is your role on the Board of Governors?

As well as being a Governor on the Main Board, I am a member of its Health and Welfare

sub-committee. As something of a further specialisation, I am the Governor with particular

responsibility for safeguarding / child protection. Although it is not a specific role, the fact that

I live within 12 miles of the School puts me in a group of Governors who are more available

than others to be on hand at short notice. This means that I am fairly often involved as a

member of Governor panels.

b. What is your background and how did you join this Board of Governors?

I spent about nine years as a soldier (Gunners) leaving in 1980 since when I have lived near /

in my hometown of Canterbury working there as a solicitor. I am now moving towards full

retirement by working on a part time – three days a week – basis. I was recruited to be a

Governor by the then head who I had met while doing professional work for another Dover

school with which I was also connected.

c. Why did you become a Governor?

I thought it would be interesting and worthwhile (and have been proved right).

d. What do you do as a Governor?

Obviously I attend Governors’ meetings (with necessary preparation and follow-up).

Otherwise I take part in Governors’ disciplinary and other panels as I mentioned before. I feel

that my main commitment in terms of time are my visits to the School in my capacity as

safeguarding Governor. I try to visit twice a term and have obtained a fairly wide experience

of aspects of safeguarding throughout the School (and gained great respect for the

commitment to safeguarding that the School as a whole demonstrates).

e. What are your personal objectives for this year?

To keep up to date with relevant training courses.

On a personal note I am, as I say before, working my way into retirement. This gives me

more opportunity to do some of the things that I like including singing, fishing, shooting,

walking and gardening.

Copyright © 2019 The Duke of York's Royal Military School, All rights reserved.

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